The Recording Academy® Today from the President/CEO the Recording Academy®
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The Recording Academy® Today From The President/CEO The Recording Academy® ince its formation in 1957 by a forward-thinking group of industry executives, artists and musicians, The Recording Academy has been a leading force in supporting music Screators nationwide. From relatively humble beginnings (The Academy initially had a presence in only Los Angeles and New York and the GRAMMY Awards weren’t televised live until 1971), this organization has grown remarkably in stature and reach through the years. Over those years, the GRAMMY Awards has truly become Music’s Biggest Night, and perhaps the most important and influential three-and-a-half-hour broadcast and event for music makers and the entire music industry. The impact on an artist’s career can be substantial and dramatic, and the show’s own legacy has become internationally renowned, with unforgettable moments on the telecast becoming part of our shared musical history. And those shared memories are getting shared in record numbers. During the 56th GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 26, 2014, there were a record-breaking 34 million social media interactions surrounding the show. But our reach goes well beyond the GRAMMY telecast. In the last few years, GRAMMY television specials honoring the late Whitney Houston and the 50th anniversary of the Beatles in America have proven that the authenticity the GRAMMY brand can bring to such shows has remarkable value. And we do so much of our most important work off-screen. More than 20 years ago, The Academy added its affiliated charities — the MusiCares and GRAMMY Foundations. MusiCares has built an admired reputation as the health and human services organization for the music community. MusiCares has provided more than $37 million in emergency assistance funding to music people since its founding. The GRAMMY Foundation’s music and education programs have awarded nearly $6 million to more than 300 important archiving, preservation and research projects, and many thousands of students have benefited from programs geared toward aiding their music education ambitions. And in 2014, The Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation presented our first- ever Music Educator Award, arguably already the highest profile recognition of music teachers nationwide. In Washington, D.C., The Academy is the only trade association that represents all music creators: performers, songwriters and studio professionals. As such, we are the leading voice for the music professional in policy discussions and hearings, and produce the only annual music advocacy day, GRAMMYs on the Hill. And The Academy is making a major ongoing commitment to the importance of music in our culture through the GRAMMY Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Since opening in December 2008, the Museum has hosted more than 130,000 students at more than 700 educational events. Additionally, the Museum has welcomed more than 500,000 visitors and has produced more than 300 public programs. A new Member Services initiative, GRAMMY Pro blends live programming with on- demand online resources to ensure members have access to professional development programming and can participate in the membership community wherever they live. Many more programs are on the horizon as The Academy continues to strive for a growing positive impact on music creators’ professional lives, and excellence in everything we do. I hope the following pages will give you a deeper look into who we are. Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com Neil Portnow Recording Academy President/CEO The Recording Academy® he Recording Academy has built a and music professionals. The Lifetime voice for the important technical rich tradition as the premier outlet Achievement Award celebrates performers and creative community. Tfor honoring achievements in the and other music professionals who Through its Washington, D.C.-based recording arts and for supporting the have made outstanding contributions Advocacy & Industry Relations office, music community. to recording in their lifetimes. The The Academy seeks to amplify the voice In 1957 a visionary group of music Trustees Award recognizes primarily of music creators in national policy professionals and label executives nonperforming contributors. The matters. The Academy was instrumental in Los Angeles recognized the need Technical GRAMMY Award is presented in helping form the Recording Arts to create an organization that would to individuals and/or companies who and Sciences Congressional Caucus acknowledge and celebrate the artistic have made contributions of outstanding in 2004, and in 2007 co-founded achievements of not only talented technical significance to the recording the musicFIRST Coalition, which musicians and singers, but also field. The GRAMMY Legend Award is has taken a leadership role in the important behind-the-scenes contributors presented on occasion to individuals fight to expand radio performance such as producers and engineers. or groups for ongoing contributions royalties to all music creators. Conceived as a way to create a real and influence in the recording field. Through its affiliated MusiCares recording industry community, The And the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame was Foundation and GRAMMY Foundation, Recording Academy was born and the established in 1973 to commemorate The Academy works to protect and GRAMMY Awards process began. recordings, at least 25 years old, of lasting support music people in crisis, and The GRAMMYs are the only peer- qualitative or historical significance. provide young people with real-world presented award to honor artistic The Hall celebrated its 40th anniversary exposure to music and the music industry. achievement, technical proficiency in 2013 and now features close to During GRAMMY Week in 2014, and overall excellence in the recording 1,000 recordings, highlighting musical The Recording Academy and GRAMMY industry, without regard to album excellence across all genres. Foundation partnered to launch the sales or chart position. As the music industry continues its first-ever Music Educator Award, an The GRAMMY Awards themselves have evolution from analog to digital, The honor recognizing a current educator grown right along with the organization Recording Academy has continued who has made a significant contribution that presents them. Initially a series of its mission to be the leading force in to the field of music education. taped network TV specials titled “The Best honoring, celebrating and advancing Since 2008, The Recording Academy On Record,” the GRAMMYs have long music. The Academy has been at the has worked with the Natural Resources been a state-of-the-art live extravaganza forefront of critical issues affecting Defense Council to focus its awareness (in 2003 the GRAMMYs became the both the music community and the on the carbon footprint of The Academy first awards show to broadcast in high- general population, such as legislation and GRAMMY Awards production definition television and 5.1 surround affecting the arts community, protection to help educate telecast guests on sound) and the premier music awards of intellectual property rights, environmental issues, and to aid The show on television. piracy, archiving and preservation Academy in communicating to its In addition to the GRAMMY Award, issues, censorship concerns, and vendors an interest in sustainable The Recording Academy presents several creating dialogue between the solutions. In 2009 The Academy’s other awards to honor important music music and technology sectors. headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., To accomplish attained LEED gold-level certification, this mission, The further demonstrating the organization’s Recording Academy positive environmental impact. has developed Finally, The Academy opened the a network of 12 doors to the GRAMMY Museum in Chapters across December 2008, launching a state-of- Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com the country to the-art cultural facility at the exciting provide industry L.A. Live complex in downtown Los service and program Angeles. Expanding the institution’s development to reach, the 20,000-plus square-foot our more than GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is 23,000 members. expected to open in summer 2015. The The Academy Museum brings the mission, impact and also launched legacy of The Recording Academy and the Producers & GRAMMYs to the public year-round. Engineers Wing in 2000 to create You can learn more details about The Recording an organized Academy’s many programs at www.grammy.org. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr at the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Membership And Member Services MusiCares Foundation® Recording Academy that explore issues and trends in the only national advocacy day in Washington, Membership field of recording not only in their home D.C., while Chapter events across America Membership in The Recording city but also in the surrounding areas. bring legislators, artists and music industry Academy is open to individuals who are Additional programs include showcase leaders to the membership through panel actively working in all realms of music and networking opportunities, professional discussions and GRAMMY Town Halls. and recorded sound, from its creation development events and discounts for In 2005 The Academy launched to presentation, dissemination and select services and goods. The Academy GRAMMY, a digital newsletter/magazine protection. Through active participation serves its national membership through that brings together news about in The Recording Academy, members these 12 Chapters located in Atlanta, Academy programs with feature content help ensure